Friday, October 28, 2016

Buddleia - Butterfly Bush - Waterwise Shrub For Xeriscape

Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) is a woody shrub that is easy to grow in Utah.  It is native to Asia, Africa and parts of the Americas.  In summer and fall it has colorful (blue, purple, pink, red, magenta) and fragrant flowers that attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies.  There are several varieties and they reach different heights - from 5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide.  Butterfly Bush is very heat and drought tolerant so it only needs a good soaking every 7 or 10 days during July and August.  During the growing season it is good to deadhead (snip off the spent flowers) Butterfly Bush thoroughly every week to keep it blooming all summer and throughout the fall.  It is best to prune it in the early spring by cutting it as far down as you can - to 1 or 2 foot stems.  Believe it or not, it will grow back to full height by mid-summer.
Butterfly Bush blooming in Utah!

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